February 07, 2025
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program 2025 Applications Are Now Open!
Empowering the Workforce with Computer Science Education
December 12, 2019
Computer Science Education Week is one of our favorite events of the year. This week, schools, businesses, and community organizations have been coming together to inspire students to learn more about what software can do. I’m especially pleased to see many of Software.org’s supporting companies lead Hour of Code events around the world. This year, there are over 111,000 Hour of Code events – and counting.
This week is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what we’re doing to make the tech industry more diverse and inclusive. One of the ways our organization is working to expand computer science education to all is through our partnership with Girls Who Code. BSA | The Software Alliance and Software.org have worked with Girls Who Code since 2015, when we helped launch their first Washington, DC, program. It’s truly a joy to welcome each new class, and the young women who have participated agree – learning to code can be life-changing. Girls Who Code alumni major in computer science and related fields at 15 times the national average.
Our commitment to empowering people of all backgrounds with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century economy remains steadfast. There’s a lot of work to be done – recent statistics show that fewer than 1 in 5 computer science graduates are women and only 24 percent of computer scientists are female. We must continue to promote STEM programs – including computer science education – in order to create a stronger, more equal workforce.
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Chris Hopfensperger
Executive Director, Software.org
As the founding executive director of Software.org, Chris Hopfensperger leads the foundation’s efforts to help policymakers and the general public better understand the impact that software has on our lives, our economy, and our society. He also helps translate the foundation’s philanthropic and forward-looking agenda into efforts to address key issues facing the software industry.